transport log » ❝ welcome to Exsilium ❞

[initiates]

Date & Time: Sept 23rd, 2012.
Location: The Initiative Hold & Courtyard.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports have all arrived and have been shuffled into the Courtyard after their initial briefings.
Warnings: None.

You've just been hustled and bustled through mazes of information and literal, wide corridors of the Initiative Hold and you've been equipped with your weapon—be it a gun, a sword, or even your existing powers. They've handed you this light netbook and a small pouch of coins (or a debit card, if you're more inclined), and there are several Transports before and after you going through the very same motions. You can hear the Greeter's voice as she walks alongside large groups, telling them all about the history of this place and sharing with you your purpose here in a hurried and urgent tone. "This isn't standard," she's saying, walking perhaps faster than most of the people she's dragging around. "We don't normally have so many Transports at once. Please, let me show you into the courtyard."

You pass what looks like huge gymnasiums, all with dummies and targets strewn and splayed around the room. Training areas. There are even classrooms, and a few small offices. You're rushed past a large library while the Greeter informs you that you can find almost all your information there, if you've got the time to look—and trust her, you'll have time. You don't spend a lot of time in the bank, and it's a bit of a blur of exchanges with more and more of these strangely-accented and oddly polite-seeming members of the Initiative.

Soon enough, you're in a massive courtyard bustling with all the other Transports. It's not exactly what you'd expect, and it looks more like barracks than anything—huge walls of concrete and stone, separating you from all of the hallways you'd just passed through. It's raining heavily, and dark clouds loom in the air. It's a chill cold, and there are shelters—long cloth hangings that extend from the walls of concrete to house you from the rain, but not enough. Most notably, the courtyard is filled with a marketplace. Even in the cold and the rain, there are several citizens seated at their covered booths and tables. They're selling all manner of their own handmade goods and foods, and citizens and Transports alike are traveling from one small covered shop to another in search of all manner of necessities.

The Greeter's voice has become so faint now, but you swear you can make it out in the back of the crowds as she tells you, "Good luck. Be safe!"

Her voice is drowned out by the busy marketplace, though even the transactions taking place are somewhat subdued. Nobody is overly happy, really, though most citizens can be found with smiles on their faces. It doesn't seem like they're that shocked to see you, either; even if you're not bound in tattered rags and wrapped in heavy shawls as they are. You're welcome to walk up to a shop, and find yourself something to eat—hey, maybe you'll even find something akin to a raincoat. Or, you can join the others under the coverings against the walls. Where am I? What war? She was talking so fast, and it didn't all make very much sense… did anyone else catch it all?

Welcome to the courtyard. Welcome to the Initiative Hold—and most importantly, welcome to Exsilium.

Comments

[hornedomen]

[There were no signs of injuries or medication. His horns had stopped aching a while ago. However, he kept it as a keepsake. Whenever he wrapped it around his head, he remembered his mother. Sometimes, the memories were so vivid he felt as if he were with her again.

He hesitated at his question. Immediately, he thought about Martin. Despite the strife he went through, he did not consider it a fight.]

Once, but it wasn’t real. It was like fighting a memory.

[ofthegrey]

That sounds very strange. Was it something the Initiative did to you?

[It sounds to him almost like the Fade, and he finds himself experiencing doubt all over again about how much of this is real.]

If you don't wish to answer, or it's difficult to speak of, I understand. I won't press you.

[hornedomen]

Don’t worry, Duncan. I’ll tell you if I don’t want to talk about it, okay?

[He smiled briefly before he continued.]

The Initiative did it to everyone. It was a machine they used for training but they made a mistake. It hasn’t happened since so they probably fixed it already.

[ofthegrey]

It's a deal.

[He returns the smile and nods.]

Odd. I'm going to have a hard time trusting all of these machines of theirs. I can tell this already. In my world we don't have these things.

[hornedomen]

I haven’t seen these machines before, either. But they’re not all bad, like the ones can create ice or heat without fire.

[The technology here fascinated him and he had been eager to learn more about it since coming here.]

But some of them can be dangerous. Do you have cars in your world?

[ofthegrey]

Heat without fire? That is something I'd like to see.

[He will have to remind himself not to get too taken with anything they're provided, as it's a way for the Initiative to establish control.]

Cars? We have carts drawn by horses or oxen. Is this something else?

[hornedomen]

Yes. It’s like a metal cart that moves on its own. The people inside it control it. It’s very fast, faster than horses. That’s what makes it dangerous. They only run on roads but you should be careful.

[ofthegrey]

They stick to the roads? I will most certainly keep my eyes out for that.

[He has no intention of getting run down in this place if he can help it.]

Is there anything else in particular I should be aware of? I appreciate the assistance.

[hornedomen]

[There were plenty of unusual items here but he decided to explain what was more important. He took out his netbook and presented it to Duncan.]

This is called a husktop. [According to what Equius told him, anyway.]

All of us should have one. Sometimes it looks like a mirror but everyone can see what it reflects. That’s called a video. You can talk to everyone with it, even if you’re far away.

[ofthegrey]

I was fortunate to run into a man who knows a little about them to show me how to use it. A husktop, you say? [It makes sense to him. The coating is hard and somewhat hollowed.]

Do you know how far away you can be? For that matter, what is the furthest you've traveled since coming here?

[hornedomen]

I made it to the forest outside of the city and climbed the highest building. It works even from there. Do you want to travel further?

[A long while ago, he planned to explore further than the forests. However, that was before Koltira advised him to not travel alone.]

[ofthegrey]

In time, yes.

[He wants to see how far he can get before he's dragged to heel like a dog on a leash and how long it takes for that to happen.]

What is the forest like? In my world the wilds are dangerous places, full of fell beasts and ancient ruins.

[hornedomen]

It’s nearly empty. There aren’t a lot of animals left. They’re all very sick and the water is filthy.

[He stopped looking at the booths so he could study Duncan. He looked trustworthy.]

I’d like to go with you. I have a few supplies already.

[ofthegrey]

I've seen conditions like that before. Does anyone know the cause?

[He takes the time to study him in turn. The boy carries himself with confidence and seems to have a decent grip on what's happening in the place. He doesn't seem he'd be a liability or hold him back.]

I want to learn the city a little better first. When I'm ready to go, I'll find you and let you know. It would likely be just the two of us, or perhaps one or two others. Small groups are best for these sorts of things.

What did you do before you came here?

[hornedomen]

[The second question occupied him too much to respond to the first. He stopped walking. The bandages fell over his eyes again and he began unravelling it.]

I was about to stop the Queen of the Castle in the Mist.

[Before, Ico did not mind describing the world he was from, the Sacrifices, or his destiny at the Castle. It made him sad when he remembered his parents and his deceased friends, but he could still manage to talk about it.

However, with Martin’s death weighing heavily on his heart, it was too much to speak about without becoming emotional. His hands trembled and the bandages soaked up his tears.]

She’s a horrible witch, the herald of the Dark God. And she killed my friends.

[ofthegrey]

[He listens gravely and places a steadying hand atop his shoulder for a brief squeeze.]

I'm sorry for your losses. That sounds a daunting task to tackle alone and frustrating to be taken from your purpose, sidetracked here.

[hornedomen]

[He squeezed the bandages in his hand and wiped his tears away. The tears would not stop now and he wept.]

It’s been months and I haven’t stopped her yet.

[ofthegrey]

[He takes a knee to bring himself down closer to his level, the grip on his shoulder shifting from the top to the side. He ignores the wet beneath him.]

Yet. That's an important word. If we can be brought here, surely there are ways we can get back. You've been here a while now. It may be hard to look at it this way, but this is time for you to get stronger, to work on your skills, to firm your purpose. A delay is not a failure.

[hornedomen]

[Had he known Duncan better, he would have hugged him for support. Instead, he placed his hand on his arm and squeezed.]

I understand. I know. I just wish I could have ended it before they took me here. The entire world is in danger and it always will be until she’s gone.

[He slowed down but he had not stopped crying entirely.] Thank you. But I also… [He hesitated.] …I also lost another friend. Here.

[ofthegrey]

Hold onto the hope that when you return, there will still be time. Prepare. It is the best that you can do. Believe me. I understand the frustration. I was taken from a crucial battle in my world.

[He has no idea what will happen now and isn't convinced he survived. Holding out hope is all that's left in times like this.]

I'm very sorry to hear that. What they are doing to us is unjust. There's no shame in grieving your dead.